The K Gin, a unique new Straffan Red rhubarb gin created at The K Club
From an idea born over the course of the balmy summer of 2018, the award-winning sommelier at The K Club, Lisa O’Doherty, has developed a unique in-house gin for the resort, appropriately called The K Gin.
Created using rhubarb grown on the resort’s lush grounds, the chief botanical in The K Gin is Straffan Red rhubarb from the Victorian kitchen garden on site. This is of course complemented by juniper, and then hibiscus flowers, pink peppercorns, cardamom, lemon, lime & orange peel are the other botanicals used to create a gin that is fresh but with a hint of sweetness and spice.
“Gin seems to have taken over the world,” says sommelier Lisa O’Doherty, “and even though wine is my speciality, I am also a secret gin lover... We have an indigenous strain of rhubarb on the estate, Straffan Red, and I wanted to use that to produce a gin that was indicative of the resort and reflective of the seasons.”
Some of the best known cultivars of rhubarb include ‘Timperley Early’, ‘Steins Champagne’ and ‘Reed’s Early Superb’ and it’s thought that the cultivar ‘Straffan Red’ is a ‘sport’ of ‘Timperley Early’, meaning it’s a mutation of the original parent plant, having slightly different characteristics to it. In the case of ‘Straffan Red’ this has led to production of redder than normal stalks so The K Gin made with this rhubarb cultivar has a very trend-forward bold pink hue.
The K Gin & tonic is served in large glasses over ice with a few juniper berries and edible garden flowers as a garnish. The K Gin & tonic is also available as a cocktail option as part of The K Club’s summer afternoon tea, where the Straffan Red rhubarb is incorporated into one of the delectable desserts too. Visitors can also sample The K Gin signature cocktail - Straffan Rhubarb Sour which includes, The K Club Rhubarb Gin, fresh lemon juice, rhubarb syrup and egg white served chilled in an old fashioned glass garnished with Maraschino cocktail cherries.
“We are really pleased with The K Gin,” says Lisa O’Doherty, “and I’m looking forward to introducing the lovely complex flavours to our guests over the summer months, either as a classic The K Gin & tonic or in some interesting and innovative cocktails — I’m keen to see what our talented bar team comes up with!”
